TRUTH ABOUT THE STATE OF THE NATION...

My dear husband found this picture today on the internet. I don't know where he found it but it is a perfect description of the state of the United States. The fathers of this country are rolling over in their graves over what their creation has become.

We are no longer a free country. We're not allowed to celebrate our religion without persecution. We're no longer allowed freedom of speech. We're not allowed to do things without thousands of laws governing every move we make.

There are more starving, homeless people than ever before. Families cannot afford healthcare for their children. They tell us unemployment is lower than ever but yet I have several friends that can't find jobs (at least not jobs that a person can live on). It costs an arm and a leg to have a full tank of gas in your car.

Where are the values of this country? What ever happened to integrity, honesty, and morals?

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION...AGAIN...

I've joined up with Mom-o-Matic in an effort to lose weight in the new year. She's posted a fun challenge to other mom bloggers to come to her blog and post weight loss statistics every week. She's dubbed it Future MILF's. I love it!

To join, just click on the picture and it'll direct you to Mom-o-Matic!

SCREEN CLEANER...

Have your noticed that your computer monitor, after a few years of use is not as clear as it was when new? Well, that's because electrostatic charges cause micro-etching on the interior surface of the glass which can degrade the picture quality. As a result you end up straining your vision and visual acuity can suffer... BUT... GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to ME this process is REVERSIBLE thanks to a brand new PROGRAM I've created that "cleans" the inside of the screen!!!!!! The process takes LESS THAN 30 SECONDS, and the difference is IMMEDIATELY NOTICEABLE!!!!! Just Scroll down and let this program do the work.

Now you're screen is clean! Email a link to this page to help your friends clean their screens too!

DISNEY AS YOU'VE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE...

HE CALLED ME ON IT...

My dear husband called me on my bad attitude. He says I'm ruining Christmas for him. I'm sorry he feels this way but if he'd help take on some of the stress throughout the year, maybe I'd like holidays a bit more.

I'm the one that has the task of making sure there's enough money to buy these presents that each year get more and more expensive. I have to make sure that HIS out of town family gets presents mailed to them on time. I'm the one that does the Christmas cards that have to be printed, signed, and mailed. I bake the cookies so he can take them to work and look good with his buddies. I help whichever family we have Christmas with make the Christmas dinner. If we go out of town for the holiday, I have to pack up the boys and make sure they have everything they need. (Giving credit where credit is due: Hubster packs his own clothes when we travel...most of the time).

So I think next year, I'll let HIM be the one to do all this stuff so that I can enjoy Christmas. Maybe that will change his attitude about the way I feel.

FOUR DAYS UNTIL IT'S OVER...

Yes, I'm excited that Christmas will soon be over with. The stress will be relieved. The decorations will be put away and my house will be back to normal.

Yes, BAH-HUMBUG!

On a good note, I did get a job. I'll be starting Jan. 2nd. I'm really looking forward to being somewhere with adult conversation other than with my husband.

Conversations with him always go something like this:

Husband: "Did you get my uniforms done?"
Me: "Yes."
Husband: "What's for dinner?"
Me: "Can we order in?"
Husband: "Snore!!!!"

He always falls asleep on the couch after work these days. It's become his normal routine. I figured out last night why. He gets up after I go to sleep to check his email. Should I worry? Is he emailing someone he doesn't want me to know about? Or is he just surfing porn?

PS I'm really not liking this new blogger beta. It's so hard to work with.

MAGIC REINDEER FOOD

In a small ziploc bag or baby food container, mix:
1/4 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup sugar
sprinkle of red or green sugar crystals (for cake decorating)
OPTIONAL: You can cut a circle of cloth or felt a bit larger than the lid. Place over the lid and tie a ribbon around it to decorate. We actually used Kleenex cut in a circle and tied on with wool for the top of our lid and it turned out really nice.
(the amounts don't have to be exact)

If you use a baby food jar, you can layer the ingredients for a "sand art" look like we did in the photo.

Reindeer Poem to go with:

Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon will make it sparkle bright
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home.

BAH HUMBUG...

I'm Scrooge reincarnated. I hate the Christmas season. I dispise buying presents and doing the whole holiday thing. It's all about money and I can't stand it.

I still go through the motions. I make the Christmas cards and mail them. I bake the cookies and fudge. I gain the weight. Blah!

It doesn't help that I can seem to find a job. I've sent resumes and filled out applications all over the city. I haven't had a call back at all. Is it me or is it the time of year? sniffing pits I shower and I brush my teeth.

Ok so I'm done whining for the time being.

I hope everyone begins getting their cards in the mail. I've gotten quite a few and it's been nice. I still need to hang them on the banister.

LIFE GETS SO BUSY...

This past week has been a tad bit busy. Between bowling, Christmas parties, family drama, trying to find a part-time job, and preparing for Christmas, it's been hectic. That's why I haven't been here to post much.

I wish I could share more right now but it's not a good time. For now, I'll just post some recent work for you all to see.

So as you can see, it's been busy. Hope you are dealing well with the craziness of the seasons.

Oh, on a side note, we're having dinner with friends on Saturday at El Sombreros. It's one of our favorite places to eat and they have the yummiest margaritas so I plan to have a few or more (I won't be driving!). If you can, join us!

I'm late posting this but I wanted to post it anyway so it's not forgotten.

The Wednesday before Thanksgiving I dropped off a bucket of baby clothes at Once Upon a Child. Their website said if you bring in good condition, name brand baby clothes, they will buy them on the spot.

So I took in my freshly laundered basket of Osh Kosh, Carters, Ralph Lauren, etc. into the store. She had me fill out a form to put with my basket. She said they'd call me over the weekend (WHAT?). I drove into Kansas, a 30 minute drive, to go to this store. So now I have to wait? OK. I was patient and figured it's a holiday weekend. I'll cut them some slack.

So Monday rolls around with no phone call. I called them and she said I'd have to come back out there so they could show me what they'd chosen and give me money for it.

I pack up the kids and drive BACK into Kansas to go to the store. I get there and she shows me they've chosen 5 items. FIVE????? That's all??? They gave me $12.80 for the items and gave me back my basket of clothes. What an incredible waste of my time. It cost me that much in gas alone to make the trip out there.

I wouldn't recommend this store to anyone. It's a waste of time and they're incredibly picky about the items they'll buy from you.

I also priced their clothing while I was there and it's expensive! I can get the same types of items at my local thrift store for no more than $2 per outfit! They were charging anywhere from $6 and up.

I think for the future I'll stick with the thrift store. Not to mention, the people are friendlier there than at Once Upon a Child.

NOTE: They'll be a good garage sale at my house next spring!

PHOTO FRIDAY...AGAIN...

We got some bad weather this week. Two days ago it was freezing rain and yesterday it was snow. Here's a few pictures of the birdbath on each day. Unfortunately, I didn't venture outside to get a picture after all the snow had fallen. It was too damn cold!

While the ice was falling...

While the snow was falling...

I finally finished our Christmas card and got it off to print.

And here's some more of my work that I've done in tha past few days...